Athens man's battle with bone marrow cancer inspires idea for new lab

Reporter

A diagnosis of cancer can leave someone with feelings of hopelessness and confusion. Combine that with a rare blood disorder, and many might lose hope altogether. But Tom Senyitko isn’t giving up so easily.

Senyitko and his wife, Kristin Shea, have taken his health and life into their own hands.

Already diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood-borne cancer of the bone marrow, Senyitko later found out that he suffers from a rare blood disorder.

The combined diseases resulted in numerous trips to doctors, multiple days off work and the hassle of keeping up with doctors’ records.

Frustrated, Senyitko and Shea pulled from their experience to help others who face similar circumstances.

In the midst of seeking medical treatment for his conditions, the couple opened their own lab — LabTest Select on North Milledge Avenue.

The lab offers blood work without the hassle of insurance, doctor’s notes, specialists and referrals.

Shea said they felt like they were constantly battling the red tape of insurance co-pays and doctor’s orders to get lab tests.

“But it wasn’t necessary,” said Shea. “It was the waiting (on blood results) that was making us crazy.”

At LabTest Select, most tests are returned within 48 hours.

“We felt like he had gone through this experience, so we wanted to create a way to help people who may go through the same thing,” she said.

The couple opened the lab in April.

The strain of a new business doesn’t seem to be adversely affecting Senyitko.

With some investigation, a bit of social media and a lot of persistence, he is on a path that he and Shea believe is his best chance for survival. At worst, it will buy him more time to devote to his family and community, and hopefully enough time to see U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of a drug that will combat his disorder.

But while learning about what was wrong with him, Senyitko underwent myriad tests, exams and treatments that eventually got to be too much.

Shea eventually had to quit her full-time job; taking care of her husband and putting energy into their new lab became too much to balance. Senyitko also started receiving treatment from the Mayo Clinic, which meant some travel time and a lot of organizing.

“The lesson we have learned from all of this is you have to be your own advocate,” she said. “You have to push for what you think is right. ... But so many people think their (general practitioner) is the last word.”

Lab Test Select is located at 500 N. Milledge Ave. near Prince Avenue. It is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

For more information, call (706) 389-0880 or visit the website at labtestselect.com.

In addition to blood tests, the lab also offers DNA, STD and drug and alcohol testing.

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